A few years ago, Audiobook and Audible were quite the same. But, since then, both companies have made some significant changes to their membership plans and perks. So, in case you love listening to books or planning to buy their subscription, it would be best for you to check them both.
While Audiobook and Audible have similar subscription charges, they greatly vary when it comes to their catalog, mobile apps, audio quality and returning policies. The Audiobook has a comparatively larger catalog while Audible offers excellent audio quality and a better return policy than Audiobook.
If you want to dig into Pricing of Audiobook and Audible, then, I’ve made a comparison for you.
Keep reading to learn more about Audiobook vs Audible.
Audiobook Vs Audible Features Comparison
Now, here is a table about Audiobook Vs Audible so you can get a quick review about their features.
|
What Feature I am Comparing? |
Audiobook |
Audible |
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer a free trial? |
Yes (30-days Trial) |
Yes (30-days Trial) |
|
Audiobook (Limited view or full?) |
Full |
Full |
|
Will I have lifetime access to books I buy? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
How many books do they have? |
375,000 |
200,000 |
|
How many bonus books can I listen to when subscribed? |
Book Club |
Unlimited Audible Originals |
|
What about audio quality? |
Good |
Excellent |
|
Do they offer podcasts and original productions? |
No, they don’t. |
Yes, they do. |
Audiobook Vs Audible Pricing
First, I will discuss the pricing. You will be happy to know both Audiobook and Audible have a standard membership that costs $14.95 per month. And, don’t worry! You can cancel whenever you want and they won’t charge you anymore.
Now, I would like to talk about yearly subscriptions of Audible. You can buy its yearly subscriptions with 1 or 2 credits per month. It’s really good because it actually makes the price per Audible credit way cheaper than Audiobook. Audible credits are the monthly credits you redeem when purchasing audiobooks from them.
And, if you’re an Amazon customer, you don’t have to waste your time signing up for Audible. All you got to do is just log in with your Amazon email and password, and then you can use your Amazon payment method.
Well, Amazon’s payment method is acceptable because Audible is actually owned by Amazon. It means you can use the same login for both platforms. I find it pretty convenient; that’s why I shared this with you.
But, signing up for Audiobook is also quick and easy. What I appreciate about Audiobook is that there is no hassle of a credit card like on Amazon since they accept PayPal as a payment option.
The best part? Both Audiobook and Audible offer a free trial of 30 days, meaning you can try them out without any risk.
And in case you buy a book on Audiobook or Audible using your free audiobook credit, it is totally yours to keep, even if you decide to cancel your subscription during the free trial. So, what I will recommend is to give them a shot and see which one can work best for you.
Now, here is a table about Audiobook Vs Audible subscription charges:
|
Membership Type |
Audiobook |
Audible |
|---|---|---|
|
Monthly Membership |
$14.95 |
$14.95 |
|
Yearly Membership |
Nil |
$149.50 |
|
Cost Per Book |
$14.95 |
$12.45 |
|
Platinum 24 Books (Yearly) |
Nil |
$229.50 |
|
Platinum Cost Per Book |
Nil |
$9.56 |
Audiobook Vs Audible Membership Benefits
Now, l will talk about the membership benefits of Audiobooks and Audible. Back in time, both services used to offer the exact same thing. But, in 2023, they have changed a lot.
What Are the Benefits of Having An Audiobook Membership?
First, I will discuss some unique benefits of having an audiobook membership.
- As a member of Audiobook, you have some cool options for using your monthly credit. Instead of buying a book with your monthly credit, you can use it to join an “Audiobook Club” and listen to as many of the included audiobooks as you want.
- In case you have been an Audible Escape Subscriber, check out the Audiobook Romance Club. Additionally, they have clubs for all kinds of genres, and you can borrow as many books as you want from these clubs. The plus point is you don’t have to pay for each book. Yeah, it’s kind of like Audible Plus. But the books they give you are totally different. But, you can only enjoy them as long as you have an active subscription. That being the reason, I recommend checking out their catalogs before you go ahead and use your credit like that!
- By the way, you can also choose one audiobook from their little collection of bestsellers called the VIP Selection. These books are super long, like full-length novels and stuff. But, once your subscription runs out, these audiobooks will also disappear from your app.
What Are the Benefits of Having an Audible membership?
Now, I will discuss the perks of having an Audible membership.
- Well. If you’re an Audible Premium Plus subscriber, you still get a free audiobook credit for any book in their whole catalog. Plus, you also get to check out the Audible Plus catalog and listen to as many of the 10,000+ titles they have. Cool, right? These audiobooks are totally Audible Originals and Audible Studios productions.
- Another thing I like about Audible is they have got books from super popular authors. Audible invited them to be part of the program. These audiobooks are legit top-notch and you get to listen as much as you want! For me, this benefit is really cool, honestly.
- Now, let’s talk about Audible Plus. It’s a digital library service where, if your membership ends, the books get taken off your advice. But until then, you can totally listen to as many of these books as you want without having to use up an Audible credit.
Audiobook Vs Audible Mobile Apps
Now, let’s talk about their mobile apps. Both Audiobook and Audible have awesome mobile apps? And guess what? Users in the App Stores have given them really high ratings! The best thing about Audible is that it can play on so many devices! You can listen to your audiobooks on your Smart TV, your Amazon Firestick, and even on Alexa. Isn’t that awesome? But, unfortunately, Audiobook doesn’t offer this.
While they apps have easy-to-use interface for browsing and discovering new books, Audible app has some really excellent features:
- One feature is their car mode. It makes the app super easy to use when you’re driving. The buttons are way bigger, so you can’t miss ’em.
- Another one is the sleep timer. Sleep timer is handy for when you wanna listen to something before you hit the hay, so it doesn’t keep playing all night long.
It means the Audible mobile app is far better than the Audiobook app. The Audiobook app still needs some modification.
Reasons Why Audiobook is Way Better Than Audible
Now, here are the two reasons why Audiobook is way better than Audible:
- First off, their selection is absolutely amazing. When I browsed through their catalog, I found they’ve got a huge library of audiobooks so you’ll never run out of options. And get this, they even have a bunch of exclusive titles that you won’t find anywhere else.
- Secondly, I will recommend Audiobook if you prefer listening to books on your phone. It is definitely a step up and they have got some excellent recommendations you will not find anywhere else.
Reasons Why Audible is Way Better Than Audiobook
Now, I will discuss the reasons why some people prefer Audible over Audiobook:
- Audible only charges $6.22 per audiobook if you have a yearly subscription. In comparison, Audiobooks.com charges $7.47. So, Audible is definitely the cheaper option here! Yeah, there’s not a huge price difference, but there’s still a bit of a gap.
- Audible always gets the new releases and bestsellers first. It’s just too popular with publishers ’cause of its huge market share and customer base. Can’t resist it, man. So, Audible always has the newest stuff. And, in the past few years, I’ve noticed some incredible growth in Audible Originals and exclusive stuff. Since Audible is owned by Amazon, they can totally go all out to stand out from their competitors.
- Well, what I like the most about Audible is the deal with the return policy . Audibles has this awesome thing called the Great Listen Guarantee, which lets you return any book within a year of buying it, no questions asked. It’s pretty sweet, right? On the other hand, I don’t see Audiobooks have a guarantee like that. They basically decide on a case-by-case basis. You will report your case to their customer support and they will replace the book if found faulty. But, like Audible, they don’t offer refunds on subscription charges.
- Want me to talk about audio quality? Well, the audio quality at Audible is 64 kbps while, still good, it is a measly 32 kbps at Audiobook. Well, being an audiophile, I noticed the difference; you might not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Audiobook Vs Audible
Are Audiobook and Audible the same thing?
No, Audiobook and Audible are not the same. They are two separate platforms for accessing and purchasing audiobooks. While Audiobook is independent, Audible is Amazon’s subsidiary. Also, both have different catalogs, features and pricing options.
Can I find the same audiobooks on both Audiobook and Audible?
While their libraries overlap, it’s technically not possible to find every book on both platforms. Audiobook availability varies because of their publisher agreements. Audiobook generally has a more extensive collection, but Audible provides you with unique titles and exclusives.
Which is more better for me, Audiobook or Audible?
The choice between Audiobook and Audible depends on what you prefer. If you are looking for a wide collection of books, Audiobook might be preferable. But, in case you want unique titles, originals and podcasts, Audible could be more suitable.
Related: Why Is Scribd Better Than Audible?
Final Take
If you’re someone who listens to like one or two audiobooks a month, there’s honestly not a big difference between Audible and Audiobook. But, I recommend going with your gut feeling, you know?
And, if you go through like one or more books every week, then what I suggest is to check both the Audiobook Clubs and Audible Plus catalog. That is all from my side!
